Tea-strainer



(No Model.)

P. J. WILLS. TEA STRAINER.

PatentedJun e 28, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

FRANK J. WILLS, OF WIN CHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TEA-STRAINER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,726, dated June 28, 1892.

Application filed April 28, 1891. Serial No. 390,858. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. \VILLS, of \Vinchester, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefullmprovementin Tea-Strainers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 is a general view of the strainer in perspective, showing all the various parts, A being the outer shell; O, the opening therein for the strained liquid; 8, the portion of the shell formerly filling opening 0, but now bent into a lip; or the lip 6 maybe an independent piece of metal attached. E is the hook or projection, which is shown resting on the edge of the cup. F is the supporting-wire; G, the bail, which is bent into a spiral at H for the purpose of preventing the strainer from twisting, B being a loose strainer. Fig. 2 is aside View of the strainer in elevation, and Fig. 3 is a front View in elevation. The whole is arranged to be attached to a tea-pot in the usual manner, so as to swing only in the general perpendicular plane of the spout.

The operation is as follows: The tea flows from the tea-pot and falls through the strainer B into the lower portion of the shell, finding its way out into the tea-cu p through the opening 0. By resting the hook E (shown in Fig. 2) upon the edge of the cup the lip c is depressed, allowing most of the contents of the shell to flow out. This may be done While pouring the tea or bya light touch just afterward. Upon replacing the tea-pot upon the table the drip from the upper portion is retained in the lower compartment, as when that the table-cloth is protected from tea stains, with a general gain in neatness. That I claim, and desire to have covered by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tea-strainer consisting of a hemispherical shell or its equivalent in shape or proportions, preferably of metal, suspended so as to swing freely in a perpendicular plane passing through the axis of the spout and tea-pot, to which it is attached in the usual manner, with an annular ring or shoulder about a third of the way down, upon which rests a, strainer slightly dished, and an opening in the shell, forming a lip below the strainer, also a hook or projection on the side opposite the said orifice and on the side nearest the tea-pot when in position for use, this hook being for the purpose of arresting the descent of the strainer into the cup on the side to which it is attached, while permitting the other side to drop lower, all substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes mentioned.

2. In a tea-strainer, a projection or hook attached to the shell near the bottom and on the side opposite to the orifice, arranged to depress the lip by coming in contact with the edge of the tea-cup while in use, substantially as shown and described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 20th day of April, 1891.

FRANK J. WILLS. Witnesses:

EDWARD E. Porn, ROBT. P. K. NEFF. 

